Movies with a Purpose get people talking

Friday

Apr 27, 2018 at 11:00 AM

At the beginning of this year, First 5 Siskiyou Children and Families Commission and other trauma-prevention partners have embarked on an awareness campaign to educate the public on the serious health and social impacts of adverse childhood experiences through Movies with a Purpose (MWAP).

First 5 Siskiyou Children and Families Commission submitted the following:

At the beginning of this year, First 5 Siskiyou Children and Families Commission and other trauma-prevention partners have embarked on an awareness campaign to educate the public on the serious health and social impacts of adverse childhood experiences through Movies with a Purpose (MWAP). With a film and a public discussion format, the events are held in schools, resource centers, libraries and other venues, county-wide.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, “… Early experiences are an important public health issue. Much of the foundational research in this area has been referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs have been linked to risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life potential and early death. As the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for these outcomes. The wide-ranging health and social consequences of ACEs underscore the importance of preventing them before they happen.”

“Paper Tigers,” one of the featured films, chronicles the lives of six students whose principal at Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, Washington, radically changed his approach to school discipline after learning about the impacts of ACEs. After the showing of the film at McCloud High School on March 26, Principal/Associate Superintendent of Siskiyou Union High School District, Jessica Bowman commented, “Our school district, like many others across the nation are moving towards a Restorative Justice model to focus on providing support for all students in every classroom. This mindset and approach are quite different than what public schools have used for decades. The intent is to focus on inclusive practices while teaching students how to be responsible for their actions. In times past, we utilized a 'zero tolerance' policy which resulted in a significant achievement gap and isolated our most needy students from the services, support and community they needed most. This model is based on intensive research by such organizations at West Ed and HOPE City. Building relationships with every student is a core component of the program.”

“Teachers at both Jefferson High School and McCloud High School have watched Paper Tigers from Movies with a Purpose which helps inform the work we are doing across the district. This documentary is very powerful and includes the voices of students who have experienced tremendous tragedy and trauma in their lives. We have students in our schools, right here in Siskiyou County, who have also experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences. Knowing that some children come to us with a challenging background as well as what happens to the brain when a child experiences ACEs helps inform our practice.”

Referring to the work of First 5 Siskiyou and partners, and the Director of the Dunsmuir and Mt. Shasta Resource Centers serving the communities of Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta and McCloud, Bowman added, ”We are at the beginning of this very important work and we are grateful to Steve Bryan and First 5 Siskiyou for leading the way on this significant topic and collaborating with our district to bring the information directly to us.”

Concerned parents and citizens, educators, child development specialists and grown adults whom have survived adverse experiences are among the attendees of these events. In Dunsmuir, a young adult survivor of domestic violence said that he always thought the extreme abuse he experienced as a child was his own fault until he saw the ACEs film recently at Pops Performing Arts Cultural Center. Abigail Yeager, executive director of the Happy Camp Community Center, said the film showing held on April 19 at Happy Camp Elementary School “was really great. It was nice to see teachers in attendance as they felt the topic was very important.”

Coming up on Monday, April 30, from 5–7 p.m., two short films will be shown at the Yreka Community Resource Center: “First Impressions…Exposure to Violence and a Child’s Developing Brain” and “How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime – a TEDMED Talk.” On May 8, from 2–4 p.m., a film--facilitated by Carla Charraga of Siskiyou Domestic Violence and Crisis Center and Karen Pautz, executive director of First 5 Siskiyou – will be shown at Great Northern Services in Weed. At Dunsmuir High School on May 16, from 5:30–8 p.m., there will be a showing of Paper Tigers.

“Movies with a Purpose was a concept presented by First 5 Siskiyou Children and Families Commissioner Dr. Robert Hughes, whose untimely passing in Spring 2017 had a great impact on all who knew him,” according to Karen Pautz, “To honor Dr. Hughes and his advocacy for trauma free childhood, we are working collectively with our partners to implement his vision. Trauma and its effects on families and communities is preventable. Through education and strategies in building resilient children and communities, we can help offset the impact of trauma on Siskiyou County children, families and communities.”

Karen Pautz adds “We are very appreciative of our partners who have stepped up to work with us so to strengthen families and help build protective factors in families.” Siskiyou County’s Behavioral Health’s Mental Health Services Act, Siskiyou County Health and Human Services’ Child Protective and Adult Protective Services, Siskiyou Domestic Violence and Crisis Center, and Siskiyou County Probation have partnered with First 5 Siskiyou to bring you these events. Other partners include the resource centers serving the communities Dunsmuir, Happy Camp, Mount Shasta, McCloud, Montague and surrounding areas as well as Weed and Yreka. Additionally, Big Springs Elementary, the Mt. Shasta Library, Scott Valley Jr. High School, McCloud High School, Happy Camp Elementary School, Great Northern Services, Dunsmuir High School as well Cal-Fresh, the SNAP-ED Program, Women with Infant Children and others have also played an important role in partnership.

Refreshments are provided at these events and are free to the public. Visit www.facebook.com/first5siskiyou or call (530) 918-7222 for more information on these events. If you would like to host your own event with your friends, your service club or organization, email Karen Pautz at karenpautz@first5siskiyou.org.

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